By Howard Goldstein
On Sept. 19, 2002, Bruning filed for information about various officials' salaries, titles and contracts from the North Bellmore School District under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). To date, Bruning said that she has yet to receive any information, and charged that she was illegally denied access to district files for seven months.
The North Bellmore School District maintains that Bruning has been given much of the requested information. Addtionally, district officials say, information that she has not been given may be excluded from FOIA purview and thus could not be given to her.
According to the Freedom of Information Act, all public agencies, including schools district, must maintain payroll records for all staff members and are required to release each employee's name, public office address, title and salary to the public.
Bruning, who worked in the district 10 years ago, said that she wanted to see the books after several years of feeling disgusted over what she believes to be nepotism, poor administration and heavy tax hikes brought by an insular board of education. "I want to show people in the community where their money is really being spent," said Bruning, who recently decided to run for school board. She is seeking the late James Rooney's seat, which was filled by former Martin Ave PTA President Nina Lanci, who is considered the incumbent in the May 20 election.
According to Bruning, the school board has sponsored unnecessary projects, pays hefty salaries to people in superfluous administrative positions or those without proper civil-service qualifications, and makes personal use of school money and properties.
Lanci, who took her seat on the Board of Education several months after Bruning first requested district information under FOIA, said she was not aware of any denied FOIA requests, and that salary and title information was given to Bruning on several occasions.
Lanci also said that many of Bruning's charges were unfounded and that the district is well run. "We have a highly professional staff," she said. "Some of the people on this board have spent 15 to 20 or more years in education.
"This district runs so smoothly because it hires and attracts top talent," Lanci continued. "Everyone on the board has a title, and nothing has been created to give anyone undeserved or unnecessary positions. The board's philosophy is, and has always been, that the kids come first. I have no idea where the perception of a do-nothing, self-serving board comes from."
Lanci said that during public meetings, board members were always polite to Bruning, who often spoke belligerently and refused to accept answers to her questions and accusations.
Bruning said the board dismissed the evidence she brought before it and and shouted down anything its members didn't want the public to know about. She said her first FOIA request was denied on Oct. 31, 2002 in a letter from Superintendent James Parla, on the grounds that she had asked for information on "Mr. Polar," which could not be assumed to mean Parla. Moreover, the denial stated that information pertaining to "income" is not covered under FOIA.
"Salaries are public information covered by FOIA," said Bob Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government. "Also, it has been held judicially that public employees' total gross wages must be reported if requested under FOIA."
North Bellmore Assistant Superintendent Howard Politt said that salary information was given to Bruning. "We have given her salaries, and everything else covered by FOIA," he said. "There is a difference between 'income' and 'salary.' School employees' total income, which can be from private sources as well, is an invasion of privacy and not covered under FOIA."
Bruning doesn't believe that her requests were adequately addressed. "I didn't give up," she said. "I have been trying for seven months to obtain the salaries, titles and contracts of the superintendent, assistant superintendent, the district secretary, the school board attorney and the board members who work for the district."
Bruning said that the district has failed to respond to numerous subsequent requests. She has certified letters addressed to Parla, the school board and board attorney William Englander, the most recent of which is dated April 1.
"I've heard nothing from them," she said. "The last answer I received was ... on Jan. 17, saying that the board acknowledged my request. I haven't received anything from North Bellmore since. When I have called Englander on the phone, I've been brushed off and told, 'They'll get to it.'"
Englander, who was on vacation, could not be reached for comment.
Politt said that Bruning has clouded the issues at hand. "The district sent Mrs. Bruning a written record of salaries and titles several months ago," he said. "Furthermore, administrators' salaries can be found on the district Web site.
"The delays that Mrs. Bruning speaks of are in regards to other, less straightforward requests whose legality is unclear. District attorneys are researching this. But all requests clearly delineated by FOIA were answered."
Bruning said that she could now file a lawsuit against the school district, but she will not. "I'd be suing my own school," she said. "I don't want to bring the schools down; I want to clean up a crooked and unaccountable school board.
"The schools exist for the people. We are not the subjects of the school board. I want our kids and families treated right. I don't lie, and I don't cover things up. The people have the right to know where their taxes go. This is our money for our kids. We can't be afraid to challenge our school board."
